"The Peach Blossom Coin signifies fortune, while the Peach Wood Sword foretells calamity." Mu Qingyang tossed the Peach Blossom Coin high into the air before catching it with a swift motion. "Head, I don't even need to divine this time."
"Oh?" Su Changhe chuckled.
"It must be the Peach Wood Sword side." Mu Qingyang raised his hand, gazing at the sword emblem with a bitter smile. "As ominous as it gets."
"Is Langya King Xiao Ruofeng truly so difficult to kill?" Su Changhe murmured thoughtfully.
"To put it dramatically, he's harder to kill than the emperor." Mu Qingyang pocketed the coin. "Aside from being the foremost military figure in Northern Li, he has another identity—the direct disciple of the former world's strongest, Li Changsheng, and the senior brother of Baili Dongjun, a current top contender for that title."
Su Changhe stroked his thin beard. "Baili Dongjun... I've met him before."
"Oh? And how was that?" Mu Qingyang inquired.
Su Changhe's eyes narrowed slightly. "I nearly killed him with a single sword stroke back then."
Mu Qingyang froze. "The Head was that formidable?"
"Hahaha! Back then, he didn't know any martial arts. I could've ended him with a mere flick of my wrist. Unfortunately, Wen Hujiu, the head of the Wen family, was by his side, so I held back. Who would've thought that my momentary restraint would inadvertently nurture the world's strongest?" Su Changhe feigned lamentation.
Mu Qingyang shrugged dismissively. "Head, he became the world's strongest because he became Li Changsheng's disciple, not because of you. Conversely, had you acted then, he'd still likely be the world's strongest today—but our Dark River... might no longer have its current Head."
"Hahaha! Such disrespect for your leader. Very well, divine for us—had we acted then, how would the story have unfolded?" Su Changhe challenged.
Mu Qingyang shook his head gently. "Divination reveals future possibilities, not past ones."
"Since there's divination, is there also counter-divination? You say this venture is extremely ominous—how might we avert disaster?" Su Changhe took the Peach Blossom Coin from Mu Qingyang, examining it against the sunlight.
"Alas, even the creator of this coin remains trapped by his own fate, unable to alter divinations." Mu Qingyang stepped forward to reclaim the coin. "Head, I have just one question."
"Speak." Su Changhe turned, preparing to leave.
"Can I... not go?" Mu Qingyang's voice carried unmistakable bitterness.
"No." Su Changhe shook his head. "Within Dark River, only you accompanied me to Heaven Revelation City. If I'm to march to my death, you'll be my cushion."
"Isn't Uncle Zhe also in Heaven Revelation City? He's far more capable than I am," Mu Qingyang pointed out.
Su Changhe smiled. "Uncle Zhe is no longer part of Dark River. He deserves his own life now."
"Sigh." Mu Qingyang stretched lazily. "I'd like my own life too."
Academy.
Chen Ru had been napping on a bamboo couch when a faint tea fragrance roused him. He sniffed the air and sat up, spotting the long-absent figure brewing tea at the wooden table.
"Ruofeng, what brings you here?" Within the academy, hierarchies held no meaning—hence Chen Ru addressed him by name directly.Xiao Ruofeng turned his head slightly. "You're awake, Teacher. Last night, I suddenly dreamed of my master and senior brothers, so I wanted to return to the academy to see."
"What did you dream of?" Chen Ru stepped down from the bamboo couch and sat opposite Xiao Ruofeng. He still remembered the first time he met Xiao Ruofeng—a spirited young man who, after drinking seven cups of Starry Night Wine atop the Carved Tower Pavilion, had broken through his cultivation realm in a single leap. But later, the sorrow between Xiao Ruofeng's brows grew heavier and heavier. Now, just sitting there, he exuded a sense of weighty desolation.
Xiao Ruofeng poured Chen Ru a cup of tea. "Nothing particularly special—just some ordinary scenes from the academy many years ago. Back then, Dongjun hadn’t yet joined the sect, and Senior Brother Gu hadn’t returned to Chaisang City. He and Second Senior Brother were always stealing each other’s wine. Senior Brothers Liu Yue and Xiao Hei forever wore bamboo hats, yet even those couldn’t muffle their mutual sarcasm. As for Senior Brother Luo Xuan, he always sat quietly to the side, playing his flute, never involving himself in the commotion."
"And what about you?" Chen Ru took a sip of tea and asked.
"Me?" Xiao Ruofeng thought for a moment. "I sat with my master. I wanted to play a game of chess with him, but he refused. He said I was... lost."
Chen Ru paused, then set down his cup. "Don’t overthink it. You just miss them. Why not find a time to reunite? Return to the academy. Teacher Li’s whereabouts are elusive, so as the academy’s Libationer, I’ll host you all. How does that sound?"
Xiao Ruofeng was silent for a long time before finally shaking his head. "Everyone has made their own choices, their own lives. Seeing me as I am now would surely disappoint them."
"You are the great hero of Northern Li, the great hero of the world. No one would be disappointed in you—not even Teacher Li has that right," Chen Ru said solemnly. "I just hope you don’t disappoint yourself."
"Thank you, Teacher." Xiao Ruofeng nodded lightly and sipped his tea. "In Heaven Revelation City, fewer and fewer people speak to me like this."
"Those around you are either too simple-minded, like Lei Mengsha and his wife, or too complex, like that masked fellow," Chen Ru sighed. "As for me, I wouldn’t count as your friend."
"You are someone I deeply respect," Xiao Ruofeng replied.
"Have you ever regretted it? You had another path you could have taken. The world was vast—had you not confined yourself within the imperial city and its royal family, you might have lived more freely and joyfully," Chen Ru asked. "Like your other senior brothers."
"When I think of the dreams I once had, I feel a pang of loss. In those dreams, I could still ride with my sword, gallop through fields of flowers, and stand before the woman I loved." Xiao Ruofeng stood and draped the black cloak over his shoulders. "But if everyone were in the jianghu, then the jianghu wouldn’t be what it is today."
"I’ve always known—though you may have regrets, you don’t feel remorse," Chen Ru said with a smile.
"Some things must be done by someone," Xiao Ruofeng murmured. "And thank you, Teacher, for all you’ve done for the academy over the years.""I will also be leaving the academy soon. A junior disciple of mine will take over my position as Libationer for a while. He was once ranked alongside you as one of the Eight Young Lords of Beili," Chen Ru said.
"It's Xie Xuan," Xiao Ruofeng smiled.
"Yes, but he won't stay at the academy for long. And the academy itself... it's time for it to bid farewell to everyone," Chen Ru said slowly.
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